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Salem, KY
City in Livingston County, Kentucky.
Population
780
Land area
0.9sq mi
People per sq mi
916
ZIP codes
0
Salem and its ZIP codes
Salem at a glance
- Salem is about 8 times as dense as Kentucky as a whole.
- The median household income is $61,667, 3% below the Kentucky median of $63,726.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $102,400 (50% below Kentucky) and median rent is $678 a month.
Local data for Salem, KY
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Salem, KY, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$61,667
Poverty rate
25.5%
Median home value
$102,400
Median rent
$678/mo
Homeownership
83.6%
Bachelor's or higher
14.8%
Median age
45.3
Average commute
33.4 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (89), Irish Americans (51), German Americans (29).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Livingston County. PPP loans are for Salem.
Unemployment rate
4.5%
Aug 2026, +0.1 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$65,173
3,489 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$52,369
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$85.2M
FY 2026, $9,587 per person
How people get to work
Salem, KY, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone83.0%
- Carpooled8.5%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked4.4%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home4.1%
Average one-way commute: 33.4 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Salem, KY, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: ice storm
Storm events since 1996
680
Countywide, mostly dense fog
Flood insurance policies
53
1.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
88° / 26°F
49.3 inches of rain a year
Cities near Salem
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| BurnaCensus-designated place | 6.5 mi | 1.3 |
| CrayneCensus-designated place | 8.9 mi | 1.1 |
| MarionCity | 9.7 mi | 3.6 |
| FredoniaCity | 11 mi | 0.6 |
| ToluCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 0.3 |
| CarrsvilleCity | 12 mi | 0.1 |
| Rosiclare, ILCity | 12 mi | 1.9 |
| SmithlandCity | 13 mi | 0.5 |
| Elizabethtown, ILVillage | 13 mi | 0.7 |
| Cave-In-Rock, ILVillage | 15 mi | 0.4 |
| KuttawaCity | 15 mi | 2.2 |
| Golconda, ILCity | 15 mi | 0.5 |
| EddyvilleCity | 16 mi | 6.9 |
| GilbertsvilleCensus-designated place | 17 mi | 1 |
| Calvert CityCity | 18 mi | 17.9 |
| Grand RiversCity | 18 mi | 1.8 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Salem, KY in?
- Salem is in Livingston County, Kentucky.
- What is the population of Salem, KY?
- About 780 people live in Salem, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Salem?
- Nearby places include Burna (6.5 mi), Crayne (8.9 mi), Marion (9.7 mi), Fredonia (11 mi), Tolu (12 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023